Combined presser-foot and needle-bar lifting mechanism for sewing-machines.



Patented Sept I6, I902.

E. G. 0DONNELL. D NEEDLE BAR LIFTING MECHANISM FOR sEwms COMBINED P BESSER FODT AN 3 sheets 'sheet l.

M M) H I N ES. (Application filed Apr. 22, 1901.)

(No Model.)

UV V E N 70/? EcZmazzeZ 610501211023 WITNESSES COMBINED PBESSEB FOOT AN N Patent-d Sept. I6, |902.,

D NEEDLE BAR'IIFTING MACHINES.

(Application filed Apr. 2 2, 190 1.

MECHANISM FOR SEWING (No Model.) 3 Sheets Sheet z.

INVENIOR ldmoizdaa'fiomzefl 'Arro rs,

l *UNlTED STATE-S 'ATlENT FFICE.

EDMoNDcREcoRY ODONNELL, or FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS,

,ASSIGNOR,BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN HAT SWEATSEWING MACHINE COMPANY, or FALL RIVER, MASSA- OHUSETTS, A CORPORATION. OF MAINE. I l

,COMBINED PRESSER-FOOT AND NE'EDLE-BARLIFTING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

'SPEGIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,354, dated September 16, 1902. Application filed April 22, 1901. l Serial No. 56,940. a, modal.)

To all when tit mag concern; l l 1 Be it known that LEDMoND GREGORY ODONNELL, a citizen of the United States,

anda resident of Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Combined Presser-Foot and Needle-Bar Lifting Mechanism for Sewing-'Machin esmf which the following is a full, clear, andexactdes'cription.

This inventionTrel-ates to-a mechanism es pecially intendedfor use in'connectionwith machinesforsewing sweat-bands'into hats,

although it obviously may be used'on other H 'machines if desired.

The object is to provide meanswhereby uponthe movement-of the presser-bar the needle-bar will be disconnected from its driving mechanismand lifted to a height sufl:i

' cient to bring the pointof the needle above the l foot is at its highest position.

bottom of the presser-foot when the presser- In the practical machine thepresser-foot is arranged to rise about one inch above the needle-plate,

,andlif theneedle is raised to the elevation of the pressenfoot it is clear thatwork'even of sucha cumbersome nature as a stiff felt hat f may be readily placedlin and out of position,:

owing to the factthatwhenthe needle'bar is thus lifted and is disconnected from its driving mechanism thereis no dangerof aoj is gbeingplaced into or displaced from the k machine, since when the needle is thus raised 1 1 l the drive-shaftof theftnachine may be freely 1 lowering the presser-foot the needle drops turned Without affecting the needle 'har. By

into position and is automatically connectedl to its driving mechanism.

/ drawings,,formi;ngapart of this specification,

cate corresponding parts in a in whichsimilar charactersof eat n-1d Figurelpis asectlonal elevation of theiu- "vention on the :l-nlel l of Fig.9; Fig. 2 is a front'elevationlfof the mechanism, showing to its shaft.

for rendering said gear fast or loose on the the presser-bar and other parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 ofFigwl. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side View of the two arms of the machine. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig.1, except that the parts are in different positions. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the thread-controller; and Figs. 7, 8, and flare reduced front elevations of the mechanism, respectively showing it in operative position, in half-raised position, and in full-raised position.

10 indicates the upper arm of the machine,

and 11 the lower arm. This lower arm is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with shield and guide devices, such as described in-my copending application for hat-sewing machines, filed April 22, 1901, Serial No. 56,9l1. K l

18 indicates the needle-bar, and 17 the presser-bar, which are carried to move vertically through the casing at. the outer end of the arm 10. l

36 indicates the drive-shaft, which extends horizontally through the upper arm 10. This drive-shaft carries looselya pinion-gear 37,

and on this pinion-gear is suitably fastened a crank-arm 38, swinging with the pinion gear around the axis'of the shaft-36. The

crank 38 is joined by a link '39 to the needlebar 18, and upon the rocking ofthe shaft 36 reciprocal movement will be imparted to the needle-bar through themediumof the parts 37, 38, and 39, provided said gear 37 is fast Clutch mechanism is provided shaft, as desired,and this clutch mechanism comprises a disk or key-holder 40, whichcarries one or more pins or keys 41, these pins being fastened to or formed integral with. the

key-holder as desired. l 42 indicates a collar and through which collarthe pins or keys project, said pins extending beyond the colthe gear 37.

43 indicatesa rod and projectedinto thetubular end of the shaft 36, and 4A indicates a spring, which holds keyed on the shaft 36 lar into engagement with suitable orlfices'in fast to the key-ho1der4d the key-holder 40 and its pin removably in the position shown in Fig.3. When the clutch devices are in the adjustment shown in this view, the gear 37 is fast to the shaft 36, and therefore the needle is in positive connection and its pins disengaged from the gear 37, the

gear is then loose'on the shaft 36, and the rocking of this shaft will not influence the parts 37, 38,'and 39. Y

A yoke or cap45 incloses the key-holder 40 and is connected therewith by pins 46,running in an annular groove in the key-holder or clutch-disk 40. This cap is connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever 47, and against the diagonal edge 48 of the other arm of said bell-crank lever runs a roller 49, carried on the arm 50 of'the presser-bar yoke. The other arm. 51 of, the yoke projects through a vertical slot in the casing 35 and carries a roller-52, under which bears the lifting-lever 53, (see Fig.- 2,) such lever being adapted to be connected with a treadle or vkneebrace device, so as to exert an upward pressure on the arm 51 ofthe yoke,th us raising the presserbar. 54 indicates a hand-cam, which bears under the lifting-lever 53, and which may be used instead of the lifting-lever as desired. When the presser-bar and its yoke, the latter comprising the parts 50 and 51,are raised, the roller 49 rides against the inclined surface 48 of the bell-crank lever 47 and throws the lever from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 5, thus drawing outward the key-holder or clutch-disk 40 and disengaging the pins or keys 41 from the gear37 and crank 38. This operation is eifecled and the partsassume the position shown in Fig. 5 when the presser-bar is half-raised. (See Fig. 8.) The further upward movement of the presser-bar continueswithoutinfluencing the lever47, except to hold it in the position shown in Fig. 5. From this time on the ueedle-barisdisconnected from itsdr'iving mechanism; but the needle-bar does not begin to move until the parts assume the position shown in Figs. 5 and 8.

The gear 37is meshed with a toothed sector 55, the ra'dius of which isgreater (preferablytwice) than that of the gear 37. This sector 55 ismounted idly on the Wall of the casing 35, within the casing, and when the needle-bar is inoperation under the action of-theshaft 36 the, toothed sector55plays idly around its pivot. The toothed sector 55 is provided with an antifrietion-roller 56,

' and this roller is adapted to be engaged by an extension 57 of the arm 50 of the presser-bar yoke. This engagement of the parts 57 and 56 does nottake place until the clutch is disconnected-t-hatis to say,until the presser-bar has performed one-half of its upward movement and the parts assume the position shown 'inFigs. 5 and 8. At this period the continued upward movement of the extension 57 of the presser-bar yoke imparts a like movement to. l

the toothed sector 55, and owingto the ratio between the gears 55 and 37 the gear 37 is turnedat a greater speed than that of the it. The upward movements of thebars cease when the point of the needle is raised clear of the bottom of the presser-foot. The presserbar 17 is pushed downward by a spring 58 and the parts will automatically returnto their lower position. (seefFig. 7) under the action of the spring when contrary'pressure on the presser-bar is not exerted. The hand cam 54 is formed with a shoulder which will serve to hold the presser-bar raised against the action of this spring 58, and therefore the parts will remain in thisupper position (see Fig; 9) until the hand-cam 54 is thrown downward into operative position, or, if the action be brought about by the lifting-lever,--until pressure on the lifting-lever is relaxed. Now

it is clearthat owing to the comparatively great movement of the presser foot and needleand tothe' fact that the needle rises fully as high as the presser-foot the work ICO may be easily inserted into the machine or removed from it,--and there is no danger of prematurely starting the action of the needlebar,' owing, for instance, to the accidental starting of the shaft 36 orits connected parts. 59 indicates athread-controlling device. (See Figs. 2 and 6.) This device forms no part of the present invention, but is merely illustrated to show the position of the other parts with respect toit.

' Various changes in the fortnand-details of' myin vention may be resorted to at .willwithout departing from the spirit of myinvention. Hence I consider myself entitled to all forms of the invention as may lie within the intent of my claims. t

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent' 1. In a sewing-machine,jthe combination with the needle and presser bars, of means for driving the needle-bantsaid means including a'elutch, and a device in connection with the clutch and with the needle-bar and actuated from the presser-bansaid'deVice serving first to disconnect the clutch and then raise the needle-bar.

2. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the needle and presser. bars, of adrivingmechanism for the needle-bar, such mechanism including a clutch, and means fordisconnecting the clutch and raising the needlebar, said means being actuated from the presser-bar.

3. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the needle and presser bars, of a driving mechanism for the needle-bar, said mechanism including a clutch, a lever in connection with the clutch a yoke connected with the presser-bar" and engaging the lever to throw open the clutch, and a member engaged and moved by the yoke upon the opening of the clutch, such member having connection, with the needle-bar, to raise it.

4. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the needle-bar of means for driving the same, said means including a clutch, and manually operative devices in connection with the clutch and with the needle-bar, said devices serving first to disconnect the clutch, second to raise the needle-bar.

5. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the needle and presser bars, of means for driving the needlebar, and means acting first to disconnect the needle-bar-driving means, and second to raise the needIe bar, said latter means being fastened to the presserbar to be actuated therefrom.

to. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the drive'shaft and with the needle and presser bars, of a gear loose on the drive-shat t, a toothed sector meshed with the gear, a cranked connection between the gear and needle-bar, a clutch for fastening the gear to the drive-shaft, and a member connected with the presser-bar, said member acting first to disengage the clutch, and second, to throw the toothed sector.

7. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the drive-shaft and with the needle and presser bars, of a gear loose on the drive-shaft, a toothed sector meshed therewith, a cranked connection between the needle-bar and the gear, a clutch connecting the gear with the drive-shaft, an elbow-lever in connection with the clutch, and a yoke carried by the presserbar, said yoke serving first to throw the elbowlever and next to'swing the sector.

8, In a sewing-machine, the combination with the drive-shaft and needle and presser bars, of a gear loose on the drive-shaft, a collar fastened to the drive shaft, a clutchdisk or key-holder having a key or pin movable loosely through the collar and into engagement with the gear to fasten the gear to the shaft, acr'anked connection between the gear and the needle-bar, a" toothed sector meshed with thegear, a lever having connection withthe key-holder, and a yoke carried on the presser-bar and engaging first the lever and then the toothed sector.

9. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the needle and'presser bars and the driveshaft, of a gear loose thereon, a cranked connection between the gear and the needle-bar,

a toothed sector meshed with the gear, a collar fast on the drive'shaft adjacent to the gear,

a key-holder having a pin or key movable loosely through the collar and into engagement with the gear, a yoke or cap with which the key-holder is connected to rotate, a lever in connection with the cap,and means operated from the presser-foot for throwing first the lever and then the sector.

10. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the needle and presser bars and the driveshaft, of a gear loose thereon, a cranked connection between the gear and the needle-bar, a toothed sector meshed with the gear, a col lar fast on the drive-shaft adjacent to the gear, a key-holder having a pin or key movable loosely through the collar andintoengagement with the gear, a yoke or cap with which the key-holder is connected to rotate, a lever in connection with the cap, and means operated from the presser-foot for throwing first the lever and then the sector, said lever bee ing of elbow form and having a diagonallydisposed surface on one arm to be engaged by said yoke of the presser-bar.

11. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the needle and presser bars and the driveshaft, of means for driving the needle-bar from the drive-shaft, said means includinga clutch, an elbow-lever connected with the clutch and having on one arm a diagonal or cam surface, and a yoke carried by the presser bar and arranged first to engage said diagonal surface of the elbow-lever and throw the same, thus disconnecting the clutch,and second, to impart a rising movement to the needle-bar.

12. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the needle and presser bars and with the drive-shaft, of means for driving the needlebar from the shaft, said means including a clutch, a member movablyconnected with said means to impart a risingmovement to the needle-bar, an elbow-lever connected with the clutch to operate it, the said elbow-lever having on one arm a diagonal or cam surface,

and a yoke carried by the presser-bar and arranged to engage said diagonal surface of the elbow-lever and then to move the said member for lifting the needle-bar.

13. In a sewing-machine, thecombination with the needle and presser bars and with the tubular drive-shaft, of a gear loose on the drive-shaft, a cranked connection between the gear and needle-bar, a collar fast to the drive-shaft, a key-holder having a'key sliding loosely through the collar and engageable with the gear, a rod attached to the key-holder tor meshed with the loose gear, and a means bar, said devices serving first to disconnect actuated from the presser-bar for throwing the clutch, second to raise the needle-bar. w

the sector.

with the needle-bar of means for driving the 5 same, said means includinga clutch, a spring holding the clutch yieldingly in active posi- Witnesses: tion, and manually-operative devices in con- CLYDE T. CLAYTON, nection with the clutch and with the needle- PATRIOKAPOWERS.

14. In a sewing-machine, the combination April 17, 1901.

EDMOND GREGORY ODONNELL. 

